"Bottomland" or Nk'Mip, Osoyoos, BC

Site #C14 - $220 (6+1 free or $32.) p/w/s, free internet! (finally!!)

We are not so lucky with our weather at Osoyoos this go round. It was really nice when we arrived on Wednesday, but not so much since.  Thursday evening it poured rain and the wind came up. At first we thought our neighbours were blaring music with the base turned up. Ron went to open the door and check and it blew right out of his hands.  A number of the lakefront campers had left when we woke up this morning.

We have been out for some biking and Ron has been on a couple hikes. But damn. We sure wish they would turn the heat up here!

The Welcoming Committee

This campground is busier than we've seen it. It appears the permanent residents have increased. Probably former snowbirds not going south anymore. We are disappointed in the area where we camp. The cedar hedges between sites have died out and most have been removed. Not very private anymore and there hasn't been a lot of effort in the replanting, maintenance and upkeep.

Anyway, we enjoyed a late afternoon soak in the hot tub, dinner is done and we are looking to watch a movie this evening. Another Friday night in the RV!

Kettle River PP, Rock Creek

Kettle River Prov Pk
Site #63 - $30 n/s, cell (Note: first come until June 15 except May long)

We weren't able to camp in our favourite spot at Kettle River Provincial Park as that loop was closed due to the flooding. There was water across the road and one of the sites was under water. By day 2 the water had receded and I expect the loop will be open by the weekend.

The majority of the campground survived the fire. There is burn out near the entrance and the old maintenance compound is gone. Portions of the upper loop were badly burned. Of course those have become the 'first come' sites.

The 'best' sites are all 'Reserve' sites requiring the added reserve fee during busy season. This time of year we don't have to worry. All sites are first come.

The hummingbirds have been a real source of entertainment. We noticed them on our arrival and we put out our feeder. The place is now humming with them! They are very aggressive and one pair appears to have declared this their territory. They vigorously chase and attack all other hummers that come near the feeder. More than once we've found ourselves ducking as they swoop over our shoulders. Also, if you wear a red shirt, you will likely find yourself nose to beak with one of them as they check you out!

We enjoyed our two nights at the park, rode a portion of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and today we are Osoyoos bound.

Detour!

We did our annual bike tour around Midway. The population is less than 600 people, so it makes for a pretty quick trip! And we rode to the US border crossing on the edge of town.  It's probably the closest we'll come to Trump country while he's there. We checked out the raven and the rock drawings in the Learning Circle Park in town.





We were disappointed that we didn't see our old friend Steve, the Park Attendant. We look forward to a visit with this retired Aussie school teacher each year.  He is apparently in Kelowna Hospital after undergoing triple by-pass surgery. We wish him well and hope to see him next year!

Today we move on with a slight detour. We can almost always be expected to come up with one or two of those along the way! Did I mention it's great to have time and no deadlines?  Anyway, we have decided to check out the Kettle River Prov Pk before heading to Osoyoos. We haven't been there since the big fire and it has always been a favourite camping spot. So we will move down the road about 20 km. We will lose power and wifi, but look forward to more rustic camping and biking the KVR bike trail. I believe cell service is still available.

Saturday night in Midway, BC

Riverfront Campground
Site #7 - $22, p only, Temp 16C, Shaw Open

It was raining lightly when we packed up and left Moyie Lake Friday morning. And then it poured once we hit the highway.  Sucks to be those biking tenters that we passed on our way out of the campground! Can't be much fun!?

There was still a LOT of snow in the Kootenay Pass. And fog. Yikes, that made for some tense driving.

Big time flooding was happening in the Grand Forks and Greenwood areas. People were out bagging sand and many of their homes were already sitting in the water. It was very sad to see. We have been through minor flooding issues. I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to have a river pouring in.

Our campsite in Midway is on the Kettle River. We have never seen the river this high before. We sat at our fire and watched all the logs and debris zipping by. Pretty amazing. There were huge dead trees floating by that would crash into the bridge just downriver from us.No doubts it can be a mean and angry river!

We will hang at this town over the weekend then head over to Osoyoos. We are disappointed that Richard and Janice won't be joining us this year, but they only return from Costa Rica on the 9th and Janice has other travel commitments for the 16th, so they were slightly time pressured. Next year!

Night 2 freeloading at Moyie

Night two of free camping! How awesome is that!?

We managed to stay warm enough without our little electric heater. Body heat and a warm quilt got us through the night.  It was 11C when I got up this morning. Boiling water for morning coffee always warms things up a few more degrees.

Another leisurely day of biking and reading.

The fish guys arrived with truck full of 'fingerlings' or baby fish and we watched them stock the lake with 25,000 little Kokanees.

Pretty cool! I wonder how many of these little guys will become fish food for the larger fish. Or as we were told, their biggest enemy, the loons! Who knew?

We started our evening at the fire. Then this happened. Umbrella out.

But then it poured. Just long enough to douse the fire and chase us indoors. So it was an evening spent reading.

Moyie Lake, BC

Site #21, n/s, Temp 20C, cell

Another hour on the road Thursday and we arrived at Moyie Lake Provincial Park.

Where we were actually looking for shorts and shade. Nice!! Turn on that heat!

We were here in 2006 and made a note that we must return. It has taken us this long.

A peaceful and very beautiful spot this time of year.

We had a moment. Ron pulled out his tablet to do some reading but the battery died.  The outside power outlet didn't appear to be working. After a number of 'resets' he finally moved to an indoor outlet. No luck. He figured his tablet must have crashed.  And then laughter. THIS IS A NON POWER SITE!! How soon one forgets. 

The campground hasn't officially opened for the season and we had a free night as we did back in 2006. Gotta love that.  They are however opening washrooms and cleaning so I expect they will start charging soon. There are currently 4 of us camped here.

So we enjoyed a bike ride about the park and met up with some of the local wildlife.

We also saw this very cool old car.

It was another great evening spent outdoors around the fire.  It was also wine and steak night!

Perfection! We had our first roasted marshmallows of the season. Yum!

And then we decided to stay another night!

Note: Sad news received that cousin Ross passed away May 4.

Round two, Sparwood

Well, we aren't moving too fast on this trip. Old age? Actually it's kind of nice when one has time and no deadlines to be somewhere. So, we decided to spend another night. It is a very nice campground and we have everything we need including wifi. Plus it was windy again today and probably best to stay put. So we puttered about. Gathering more wood --



Gotta love that free firewood.
Plus I did a bit of baking --

Homemade bread even when camping. Awesome!
And we managed to burn all that firewood while enjoying the great outdoors.

We would appreciate some warmer weather! (yes, I have been keeping an eye on those much warmer Medicine Hat temps.)

Thursday: We are enjoying a leisurely coffee this morning but will pack up and move on. We are thinking Moyie Lake Prov Pk. This will be dry camping - no power so no electric heater and certainly no wifi.

Sparwood, BC

Mountain Shadows Campground
Site #6 - $36.75, p/w *s avail but not needed, or charged, free wood, Shaw Open

Once again, we didn't drive very far. It did take us a bit longer to get there, however. We took the 'scenic route'. We stopped at Fort Macleod and checked out a campground there. Ron went in to register but asked to have a look at the site first. We looked, and left. I'm sure the kind lady was disappointed, but so were we.

On to Pincher Creek area and the Old Man Dam campground. The new to us campground looked quite nice. And then we see the gate and the "Closed for Season" sign is still up.

We had lunch at the Dam pull-off and then decided to take a drive around the Reservoir. Pretty views - great highway! And it was on to Sparwood. Another of our 'old reliable' stay-overs.

By 3 pm we were sitting around the campfire.

sunbeams and smoke
Yup.....this is the life . . .

Taber, AB

Site #44 - $25, p only, poor cell but avail window, Temp 13C

Well, we didn't get as far as we had originally intended. Foiled by our #1 enemy. Wind.

It was an easy choice to pull off at the Taber Municipal campground, just 120 km down the road. We've always liked camping there, plus it is one of the few places still offering free firewood! A campers jackpot!

We biked about the park, started an early fire, had a couple cocktails and truly had a great first night back camping.

Complete with a fancy dinner!

As we were leaving this morning Ron realized that our newly rotated tires hadn't had an air adjustment and were high in front, low in back. This probably made that driving in the wind even worse! Anyway, tires are adjusted and we are back on the road. Less wind and smoother sailing today! 

Are we there yet? Spring 2017

We have just come off a week of dull cloudy weather. With bits of rain thrown in.
Also? An entire weekend of watching curling on TV with the final Grand Slam and the World Mixed Doubles taking place.

"It's camping time." he says. 

Say what??!!

So between the curling games we have taken the 5th wheel for a tire rotation (which resulted in 2 new tires) and we have managed to load 'er up!
Tally ho . . . Where will we go?

Same old question every year.

Anyway.. We are down to packing up the fridge items and we will be off in the morning. Monday. Heading west on Highway 3.

And so begins another RV trip.